September is National Honey Month and is celebrated to promote beekeeping and the use of honey as a natural and beneficial sweetener. The National Honey Board established September as National Honey Month in 1989. The significance of September is that it marks the end of honey collection season for many beekeepers in the U.S.

The Burke County Beekeepers Association (BCBA) meets monthly at the Burke County Agricultural Building located at 130 Ammons Drive in Morganton. There is a featured speaker each month and the public is invited to attend. The BCBA is a chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association.

The next meeting of the Burke County Beekeepers Association will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:00 pm.

Burke County Fair

August 30 - September 3, 2016

Come out to the Burke County Fair and check out the entries in the exhibit hall, ride the rides, and see the animals in the livestock barn.

Burke County 4-H club booths will be promoting the theme
"4-H Grows Here"

this year. Youth and leaders have worked hard to promote the theme while showcasing their club interests and participation.

The
Veggie Varmints Contest will be on Tuesday night from 6:00 - 8:00pm in front of the exhibit hall. Create an animal out of vegetables to win prizes.

4-H Officer Training & County Council

September 6, 2016

Officer Training - Join us on
September 6th from
3-6 pm for county and club officer training. We will discuss the roles and importance of leading a meeting and working together.

County Council - Our monthly county council meeting will be held
on September 6th at 6 pm (right after officer training). 4-H clubs need to send at least 2 members to the meeting to represent their club.

Nursery Weed Management Field Day

September 7, 2016

Field Day will be held on September 7th from 8:00am - 1:00pm at Hawksridge Farms in Hickory. Participants can earn 3 pesticide credits in categories X,L,N,D. Cost of the workshop is $10 and lunch is provided. Registration and payment must be received by Monday, September 5th. Call our office at 828-764-9480 for a registration form or for more information.

Nickels For Know-How Referendum

The Burke County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.

Three polling places have been established in the county and will be open from 8 am to 5 pm.

Burke County Cooperative Extension Office:

130 Ammons Drive, Morganton, NC 28655

Belle Farm:

3851 Kathy Rd, Morganton, NC 28655

Homer's Feed and Seed:

305 3rd Street, Hildebran, NC 28637

The referendum is being held to let users and producers of feed or fertilizer decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program. This program has been in place since 1948, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

A 2/3 favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support agricultural research and education. The assessment is fifteen cents per ton on feed and fertilizer produced in North Carolina.

The funds, about $1.4 million annually, are collected by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and then allocated by the NC Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.'s 148 volunteer Board of Directors to support agricultural research and extension projects at NC State University benefiting agriculture in North Carolina.

Farmers' Market Workshop

Shelby, NC
September 13, 2016

This workshop is designed for Extension professionals, market managers, volunteers and community leaders involved in farmers' market operations and local foods programming.

Cost of the workshop is $20.
For more information and a registration form
click here.

Pasture Renovation Workshop

September 15, 2016

September is an excellent time to establish or renovate cool season grass stands. Start renovation by testing your soil, so that you will know exactly what your pasture needs, and apply lime and fertilizer based on test results.

Add legumes to forage mixtures to gain higher forage yields, improve the quality of grazing and increase nitrogen fixation in your soil. Many different studies over the years have shown that increased legume populations also increase weight gain.

By heavy grazing or clipping pastures now, you can reduce weed pressure, and reducing forage height results in better seed to soil contact for overseeding pastures with cool season grasses. These cool season grasses are best established in the fall to insure adequate root development before dry weather. Overseed thin spots and troublesome areas with low cool season grass populations, so that these areas will once again be productive.

Finally, add legume seed to renovated areas the following spring. Frost seeding of legumes from February 15 - March 15 works very well. The concept is that the freezing and thawing of the soil, will help incorporate the seed into the soil. By renovating pastures and hay fields in this manner producers can increase forage quality, yield, and persistence.

To learn more about Pasture Renovation, sign up to attend Damon Pollard's workshop on September 15th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the Burke County Agricultural Building.

Fall Lawn Care Workshop

September 17, 2016

A fall lawn care workshop for the homeowner will be held at Morganton Ace Hardware on Saturday, September 17th starting at 10:00 am. This free workshop will be taught by our Horticulture Agent, Donna Teasley.

Catawba Valley Youth Livestock Showmanship Circuit Show

September 17, 2016

Don't forget to take in the Burke County Edition of the Catawba Valley Youth Livestock Showmanship Circuit, at the Burke County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 17th, beginning at 9am. Youth will be exhibiting their livestock for points, that accumulate for the championship, culminating at the Cleveland County Fair in October.

Where: Burke County Fairgrounds Livestock Barn

When: September 17th @ 9am

Stinging Caterpillars

With late summer and early fall upon us, the first stinging caterpillars of the year have been reported. The saddleback, or packsaddle is fairly common in this area, but only in small numbers. It is known as a slug caterpillar and as an adult, will measure about one inch. It is easy to identify because of it's striking appearance. The saddleback is dark brown or black on both ends with spiny horns, making it hard to tell which end is the front. The middle of the body is bright green with a large dark brown oval spot with a white margin in the middle of the back. The entire caterpillar is thick and stubby looking.

This caterpillar feeds on many trees, shrubs and plants although they do very little plant damage. They can deliver a very painful sting to humans who accidentally brush up against their spines. Although they are not considered to be a serious problem to North Carolina, anyone who has ever experienced their sting quickly learns to identify and avoid this insect pest.

Field Day will be held on September 23rd from 8:00am - 3:00pm at Hard & Flossie Clark Community Park in Collettsville. Participants can earn 4 pesticide credits in categories X,L,N,D and/or 3.5 landscaper contractor credits. Cost of the workshop is $10 if paid before September 16th and lunch is provided. After September 16th, the cost is $20. Call our office at 828-764-9480 for a registration form or for more information.

Family Day

September 26, 2016

Join us for Burke County's 9th annual Family Day! Family Day is a national initiative created by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse to promote simple acts of parental engagement as key ways to help prevent risky substance use in children and teens. There will be food, games, and fun family activities! The event will be held Monday, September 26, at Catawba Meadows Park in Morganton, from 4-7pm. In the case of rain, the event will be held the following Monday, October 3, from 4-7pm.

For more information on the Family Day initiative, and for event updates join the Facebook event page. We hope to see you there!

Summer Fun Follow-Up

4-H Chefs in Training

In August, Burke County 4-H and community youth participated in a week long cooking class. The class was a collaboration between 4-H and Family & Consumer Sciences and focused on basic kitchen safety, nutrition, food preparation, meal planning, table setting, serving, and safe food handling. Youth made and tasted over 16 recipes throughout the week incorporating each food group represented in MyPlate and each participant received a book of kitchen guides and recipes to take home. At the end of the week, family and friends were invited to sit at a table set by participants and enjoy a special meal they prepared. It was a very fun and delicious week!

Red Eye Bus Trip to NYC

November 30 - December 2

The bus will depart from Morganton at 7:30pm on November 30 and arrive in NYC at approximately 8:00 am on December 1st. Spend your day shopping, sightseeing or taking in a Broadway show. The bus will then depart NYC at midnight and return to Morganton on the morning of December 2nd.

The cost of the trip is $200 per person with a $50 deposit required to reserve your seat. The balance is due by November 14th. Anyone 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Seats are limited so reserve yours today!